Ball-bearing joint.



Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

//l/ VE/VTOP W/ T/VESSES S/l/Vl UEL G-foPGE A445 0 on. Pmw-umoaRAPH S.G. MASON.

BALL BEARING JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1907.

946,661, I Patented Jan. 11,1910.

2 SHEETSS HEET 2.

SAM UEL GA-OPGE MA 50 rr eras FKQE.

SAMUEL GEORGE MASON, OF IvIOSELEY, NEAR BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

BALL-BEARING- JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, SAMUEL GEORGE MASON, a subject of His Majesty theKing of England, residing at Harvington, St. Agnes Road, Moseley, nearBirmingham, in the county of Worcester, England, brassfounder, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Ball-BearingJoints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved method of providing a selfcontained adjustable ball bearing joint, applicable to all purposeswhere such a joint or joint connection as hereinafter described may beused in machinery or for mechanical construction and appliances, and myobject is to provide a joint that is capable of being readily,accurately and securely fitted together in the first instance, and whichcan be easily adjusted as may be required when its parts become loose inuse either through vibration, or wear or otherwise.

Hitherto the method of making ball hearing joints has been by formingthe joint pin that is the central or axial portion, of a spindle orturned cylindrical pin parallel from end to end, and also thecorresponding apertures in the connected parts have been bored or formedof equal size and corresponding parallel shape. Such a construction doesnot allow of the parts forming the joint being adjusted as they becomeworn, and thus they are apt to work loose.

By my invention this disadvantage is entirely overcome as will beclearly shown.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification Figure1 represents in front elevation a complete ball bearing oint constructedaccording to my invention, the connected parts are shown broken off forconvenience of illustration, moreover these parts may be of any desiredconfiguration independent of the joint, according to the purpose forwhich the joint or joint pin may be intended. Fig. 2, represents a sideelevation of the joint. Fig. 3, shows the central axial portion orportions forming the joint pin as a whole, detached. Fig. 4, shows thecentral pin or spindle detached. Fig. 5, represents in side elevationthe smaller tapered or conical part showing flat portions for screwingon this part to the central spindle. Fig. 6, represents the centertapered or conical part and the smaller tapered part of the axialportion shown in position in section, the smaller tapered part in such aposition as to show the fiat portions. ,Fig. 7, is a sectional view atZ. Z. in Fig. 4 through the center spindle, showing the ball race andballs. Fig. 8, is a view of the center tapered or conical part, lookingfrom Y Y Fig. 6 and showing the ball race. Fig. 9, Sheet 2, represents asectional view through the joint fork and eye, showing the taper orconical shape of the apertures as drilled to receive the axial portionor portions forming the same. Fig. 10, is a side elevation of the fork.Fig. 11, is a side elevation of the center member or eye. Fig. 12,represents a front elevation of the complete joint, showing as amodification one of the axial portions with a screw thread to take intothe fork. Fig. 13, is an end elevation of the said axial portion shownin Fig. 12 showing a square for the wrench for screwing. Fig. 14,represents a front elevation of a further modification of the joint,with a set screw pin to secure the center part. Fig. 15, represents afurther modifica tion of the screw arrangement. Fig. 16 is a detail viewof a modification.

The parts or members forming the body of the joint, A. A A are drilledwith a Morse or other kind of tapered drill, to form the tapered orconical apertures B. B B and the ball bearing center or axial portion orportions C. C C forming the joint pin, is or are formed taper or conicaland of the same sizes as the drilled tapered or conical apertures B. BB'-. of the fork and eye A. A A into which they fit.

In the usual form of construction of my improved joint, as shown inFigs. 1 to 1.1 inclusive, the central axial portion or joint pin C. C Cis driven or forced into the apertures B. B B. by blows of a hammer, orby screw pressure, hydraulic pressure, or otherwise, and when oncedriven or forced in remains fixed by friction, as the angle of taper issuch as will allow this. Any slackening that may take place will be theresult of vibration or of stretching of the metal. If such slackeningtakes place the central axial portion or joint pin C. C C is tightenedup in the apertures B. B B by the same means as were first employed tofix it.

It will be observed that the tapered end C forms an integral part of thecenter spindle or pin D, and that the tapered portion C can be rotatedand the part C can be pered parts C G.

screwed upon the spindle, all three parts C.C .G .being tapered orconical. The spm' dle D is screw threaded at D in part of its length forthe adjustment of the loose taof the axial portion or joint pin.

The opposite faces of the tapered or conical parts C. C C are providedwith the usual ball races E and balls E Thus in case of the ball jointbecoming worn, the parts of the same can readily be adjusted, as in thefirst instance, by tightening up the tapered or conical parts C C Thusis accomplished by screwing the part. G a little farther on to the pinD. and then locking it by means of the nut D The nut D acts only as alock nut, and as shown in full lines in the drawings it would not be puton until the central axial portion is forced into the members A. A A ofthe joint, as it is too large to pass through the aperture B But thisnut D may be made smaller across its corners as shown in Fig. 16, sothat the central axial portion C. C. G with the balls E E .niay all befitted together and adjusted, and then locked by the nut D thus forminga complete tapered or conical central axial portion or joint pin. Thisis the method of manufacture which I prefer.

The tapered part 0 has flat sides C for adjustment by a wrench, or othermeans may be adopted as holes into which a spanner fits.

The tapered or conical parts, 0. C C can either be finished plain or besimply driven or forced into the apertures B. B B as already described,or one or more of the parts may be screw threaded to take intocorresponding parts in the outer members of the joint. Fig. 12 showssuch screw threads G on the part C which threads take into correspondingscrew threads in a recessed ring or annular space G in the member A. Byscrewing part G into the member A the whole of the taper axial portionis forced into the apertures B. B in the fork A. A This is done when thejoint is first put together, and as there is no wear on these parts theycan only become loose from vibration, or from stretching of the metal.I11 this case the central taper or conical axial portion can be broughtback to its original position by tightening up C and C in B and B byscrewing in G by means of the square G Or instead of the screw thread Gbeing upon the tapered part C a screw may be formed upon the smallesttapered part C as shown at G in Fig. 15, and a nut D used to tighten upthe same, the effect of screwing up this nut will be to draw the entiretapered axial portion or joint pin closely into the apertures B and B ofthe fork A. A And in order that this tightening up may also take placein the aperture B. of the central member or eye A a temporary wedge orpacking must be drawn between A and A A small set screw I may be used asin Fig. 1% for additional security of the joint. This is shown in thedrawing as only applied to the central member A of the joint, butsimilar screws may be placed in the other members if found desirable, orother convenient means, such as squaring or shouldering the engagingparts, may be employed for securing the center tapered axial portion inthe fork A. A and eye A of the joint.

The screw threads G, the set screw 1* or. the squaring or theshouldering of the engaging parts are only minor details in connectionwith my invention and may be used or not, or may be convenient in anyparticular application.

I would have it understood. that the body of the joint shown at A. A Ain the drawings is only one method which I may employ, as applied to alever arm or the like. But I may vary the configuration of the body ofthe joint as may be required and the joint may be horizontal as shown,vertical or inclined, without in any degree departing from the essentialfeatures of my invention.

The central axial portion or adjustable joint pin may be applied eitherto a joint where the motion is reciprocating as illustrated or where themotion is continuously rotative.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent is 1. An adjustable joint for machinery havingthe members to be joined provided with tapered apertures, tapered axialportions fitting into said apertures, balls between said portions, acentral spindle carrying said portions, and means for locking theportions on the spindle, said portions, when assembled, forming a membertapering from one end to the other.

2. An adjustable oint for machinery having the members to be oinedprovided with tapered apertures, a spindle having a tapered portion atone end and its other end screw threaded, a tapered intermediate sleeveadapted to be carried by the spindle, and a tapered end sleeve havingits interior screw threaded to receive the screw threaded end of thespindle, balls located between the tapered portion and the intermediatesleeve and between the intermediate sleeve and the end sleeve, and a nutengaging the threaded end of the spindle for holding the parts inposition, said tapered portion of this spindle and the two sleevesforming, when assembled, a member tapering from one end to the other.

3. An adjustable joint for machinery having the members to be joinedprovided with tapered apertures, a spindle having a tapered on engagingwith screw threads on one of said members, a tapered lntermediatesleeve,

a tapered end sleeve, and means for holding 15 said sleeves on thespindle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL GEORGE MASON.

Witnesses:

EDWD. BURTON PAYNE, PERLY DENSTON.

